Sutton United manager Paul Doswell has apologised to Aldershot Town after he claimed the Shots were among a number of clubs in “desperate trouble”.

Aldershot chairman Shahid Azeem contacted Sutton United asking for a retraction and an apology from their manager following the Sunday night outburst on social media.

Doswell made the claims on Twitter in what seemed to be an effort to promote artificial pitches, like the 3G surface they have installed at Sutton’s Gander Green Lane stadium. The outspoken manager is hoping the FA overturn a current ruling that states artificial pitches are not allowed in the Football League which is currently stopping the south London side from being promoted.

To attempt to emphasise the positives of the plastic pitches, Doswell named Aldershot as one of five National League sides that he alleged were having financial problems that could be eased if they were to rip up their grass surface.

Many Aldershot fans were surprised to see Doswell name the north Hampshire club among those in what he called “desperate trouble” and demanded he show evidence to back up his potentially libellous tweet.

And the Shots supporters were not the only ones shocked and angry to see the club’s name tarnished in such a way.

Chairman Azeem confirmed to Get Surrey on Monday that he had contacted his opposite number at Sutton to ask that Doswell retract his claims and apologise for his tweet.

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“Myself as a chairman, I have written to Sutton United, chairman to chairman,” Azeem explained. “I have put an official letter to their chairman asking for a retraction and an apology and that’s where we are at the moment.

“Paul is an official of a football club, no disrespect to any supporters but this might be different if he were a fan or a keyboard warrior, and he has made those comments.

“Now, we aren’t happy about them and we don’t comment on other clubs, we don’t talk about others clubs and what their challenges are, we are only interested in Aldershot.

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“From our point of view, and the board’s point of view, we aren’t happy that an official of another club is making those kind of remarks and we have asked for a retraction and an apology. That’s where we are.”

Doswell subsequently tweeted an apology on Monday afternoon. He said: “Clearly stated personal views, many will disagree as well. Genuine apology to Aldershot wrong to mention them in context of tweet. The rally call to the supporters and interviews was reasoning. Huge respect for Aldershot as a club, management team and passionate support as well.”